Cory Olsen | Grand Rapids PressMembers of the group Occupy Grand Rapids participate in a movement at Ah Nab Awen Park in Grand Rapids Monday after sleeping along the Grand River Sunday night. Occupy Muskegon is scheduled to begin a local event Saturday.

MUSKEGON — A local group trying to show support for the Occupy Wall Street movement is hosting an event in Muskegon.

Occupy Muskegon, sparked by the ongoing protests that began Sept. 17 in New York City's financial district, is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. Saturday in Hackley Park in downtown Muskegon. It is unclear at this point if the local group will stay overnight and “occupy” the park for an undetermined amount of time.

Julie Carson, representative for “Official Occupy Muskegon,” issued a press release about the upcoming event, calling on people who “feel your voice no longer matters in America” to join the group at Hackley Park.

Carson, 40, of Muskegon Township, said those who gather Saturday morning will decide by consensus during a “general assembly” the goals of the protest, the plan of action, and the timing and location for the local protest to continue. Carson said her intention is to obey the law of Muskegon that calls for the park to close at 11 p.m., but the group will decide whether to camp overnight there or somewhere else in Muskegon or return daily to a site.

According to a city official, Hackley Park is a public park and people are allowed to gather.

Cory Olsen | Grand Rapids PressProtest signs used by the group Occupy Grand Rapids on Monday. Occupy Muskegon is set for a similar gathering Saturday.

Carson, a performance artist with Girlz on Fire and massage therapist, said she was inspired to action by “the corporations taking over the government and the people not being listened to.”

The plans for the Muskegon gathering follow other local events across the country, including those in Chicago, Detroit and Grand Rapids. Occupy Grand Rapids began last week at Ah-Nab-Awen park near the Grand River, where about 30 people spent Saturday and Sunday nights in sleeping bags.

According to the press release, the goal of the local gathering is “joining its voice with people who want Washington to focus on regular, hard-working Americans.”

“The protests were born of a deep concern that our leaders are more focused on the interests of the banks and multinational businesses than the interests of American voters and mom-and-pop businesses,” the press release stated.

The Associated Press reported that protesters in New York are speaking out against corporate greed and the gap between the rich and poor. The protesters told the AP that they have no leaders and are making decisions by consensus.